The Osceola times., 1887-10-22

speller himself"
HE spelt 'adored' with two d's the
other day - My addored one. II
looked so funny"
"Mr. Hamilton Is away lust now
is he not?" Rosalind asked presently.
Yes lie went to his sisters we'd
ding. l wish it was to his own"
"He does not live in barracks, |
think2n
mo; he has rooms in Diamond Cres-
cent, No. Is, and Gerard Townsend
lives with him.
"He is the woman-hating person who
is reading for something and never
goes out? And now l sup
pose you are gong to write to YOUR
adored Tom? ! am going out for a
walk?n
"And won't you advise me how to
get back my photograph wish | had
not given it to him.
40, so you did give itr'
81 am afraid | did," sighed Lefty.
"But he begged so hard. and said he
had never cared enough for any girl to
ask for her likeness before"
'Poor fellow! But he must give il
up. Now 90 and write your letter. -
And Rosalind ran out of the room.
About an hour later Young lady
with macintosh ON her arm knocked
at the door of 10 Diamond Crescent.
She had evidently been walking fast.
for her cheeks were glowing and her
eyes were bright.
"This il awful" she said 10 herself.
as she heard footsteps approaching the
door on the inside. a civil-looking
woman opened it.
"Are-are the gentlemen at home?n
the visitor asked. 81 mean-is Mr..
Townsend at home? ! am his sister,
and he expects me, | think"
80, walk in. maam, if YOU please.
Mr. Townsend told me YOU were not
coming until tomorrow; he is out just
now, but your room is quite ready.
Have you any luggage, ma'am?"
The visitor muttered something about
the station as She went into the hall.
please show me into the sitting
ROOM she said; ii can wait for my
brother there. No. thank you; no tea
Is this the room?"
"Yes, ma am. The gentlemen has
this between them. Mr.. Hamilton is
coming back unexpected this evening.
He was telegraphed for. as there is
some talk Of the regiment leaving at
once
"What is that noise?' the visitor
asked.
"Rain, ma'am. It's a thunder-shower
think. 1t always makes that noise on
the roof of the verandcr. ats well you
was under cover. ma a'am."
Rosalind gave a sigh of relief as the
door at last closed behind the landlady.
"Now, if by q stroke of good fortune |
can commit my felony and get away
before-my brother comes in--what an
extraordinary thing that he should be
expecting his sister | suppose
(glancing at cabinet photograph on
the chimney-piece) "that is the man
himself Why, he must be forty at
least! Now, / wonder where Mr. Geoil'
keeps his treasures? In a drawer, of
course; but which drawer? / do not
half Ike rummaging among the poor
mans possessions, but he brought
it on himself
She presently came upon packet
neatly tied up with red ribbon and
sealed. She pinched it. 1t evidently
contained photograph, for she felt the
cardboard, and there was something
soft that might be a glove; and surely
those were withered flowers that
rr,cklcd rs she pressed themP and the
more lumpy Enclosures must be letters.
Should She unite the ribbon and break
the seal? But time was passing, and
there was really no necessity. Then
she turned the packet over and found
an inscription that settled the question.
In n mans writing were the words;
Is likeness aud letters, Very
precious,
Poor Gcof, Poor, dear fellow. How
deyotcdly he loves her! am so sorry
for him Very precious, he calls
them Rosulind murmurod. But
precious or not, must rob him of
them. We can not lose Tom. Won
der what Lofty will say when she sees
them9 Now, wish | were safely out
Of this. Imust write the tinicst scrap
of n note and leave it for poor, dear
Gaoll.' She closed the drawer, put
the packet in her pocket, and wrote
hastily on half sheet of paper, "L's
sister has taken what You have no
right to keep against her will.
She had just addressed the envelope
when she heard steps on the stairs; in
another moment the door was opened
and a handsome young man came in.
GLOW awlwardn thought Rosalind.
"But must keep up the character of
Townsend's sister. Who in the world
| is hep
The newcomer stood still and stared
al her. She was the prettiest girl he
had seen for many day. She made
him bow. 81 am Mr. Townsend ;
sister" she said, land | expect him
every moment; he does not expect me
until tomorrow. Did not the landlady
tell you was here?
"She-she-she did, the young man
gaspcd. :,
"What donkey he is!' thought